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    Emirates (http://www.Emirates.com) has continued its commitment to making travel more accessible for all, by successfully arranging bespoke Emirates Travel Rehearsals across more than 40 cities globally over the past year. With more than 250 families positively impacted, Emirates Travel Rehearsals are designed to support children and young adults with autism, allowing them to practice the journey through the airport to prepare for real flights - easing travel anxiety and empowering them to fly with more confidence. After the initial Emirates Travel Rehearsals in Dubai resulted in positive feedback from families, schools and autism organisations; the Emirates Office of Accessibility & Inclusion formulated the travel rehearsal into an official programme, to be rolled out across its global network. Since April 2025, Emirates’ Airport Services teams have come together to arrange more than 40 of these travel rehearsals across airports like Accra, Athens, Bali, Bangalore, Barcelona, Bologna, Brussels, Cairo, Christchurch, Da Nang, Delhi, Dubai, Dublin, Durban, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Harare, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Luanda, Madrid, Mauritius, Milan, Newcastle, Nice, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Peshawar, Port Luis, Rome, Stansted, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto, Trivandrum, Venice and Vienna. More than 35,000 Emirates staff have been trained to support customers with autism and can help facilitate travel, and Travel Rehearsals. Emirates teams work very closely with airport authorities and partners to make sure each rehearsal is a supportive and successful experience for the families. Sami Aqil Abdullah, Senior Vice President, Emirates Airport Services Outstation & Business Support, commented; ‘The Emirates Travel Rehearsal programme has been a resounding success across 6 continents, with impressive collaboration and drive shown by all stakeholders, from our own Emirates teams to our airport partners, and the parents and teachers who trusted us to support their children. We will continue to amplify this success with more locations, more teams involved, and more families positively impacted and empowered to fly with confidence.’ What is an Emirates Travel Rehearsal? As the world’s first autism certified airline, Emirates is aware that for many families, international air travel is a highly challenging experience, or something to be avoided completely due to the high level of sensory stimuli that is involved. A survey on AutismTravel.com revealed that 78% of families are hesitant to travel or visit new locations for these reasons. For many people with autism, planning and predictability is critical – and an airport represents a world of unknown processes and stimuli. Emirates Travel Rehearsals are a purposeful community collaboration and learning exercise arranged by Emirates, with the support of international airport teams, Border Control and Security teams, and schools and centres for autism based all around the world. The travel rehearsals empower neurodivergent people to participate in a real-time journey through the airport, practicing the actions of checking in, dropping baggage, going through immigration and security, and experiencing the hustle and bustle of retail and dining areas. While familiarising themselves with the airport, participants are also issued mock boarding passes and given the chance to meet the many uniformed staff encountered along the way. In some airports, Emirates’ teams managed to arrange access to real aircraft for the children and young adults. Positive feedback from participants Now on an international level - parents, therapists, teachers, young adults and children involved in the travel rehearsals so far have reported to Emirates that the experience has been invaluable in helping them have a safe and successful flight, by offering the comfort of preparation and familiarity, as well as trained staff to support. “The relief experienced when institutions like Emirates have considered children with neurological differences in their operational strategies! To know a parent is welcomed with massive support during travels is such a beautiful feeling. It’s like a road to freedom for my child.” From an Autism Center founder and parent, Accra. “Now I am not afraid anymore! Maybe we can fly again next year. Before it was terrible. But now I can leave my fears somewhere else.” From Noah in Dusseldorf, 13 years old. “A real highlight of the day was watching the Emirates A350 arrive on stand, with the Captains waving to the children - a moment that sparked huge excitement. By the end of the evening, smiles were everywhere, and the atmosphere was filled with pride and joy. The children headed home with their bags they had “checked in,” filled with Emirates goodies, making the experience even more memorable. ​It was an incredibly rewarding day, and we’re grateful to everyone who took part and supported this.” From an Autism Group Leader, Edinburgh. “It is heartwarming to see and feel that in this busy world, there is still time taken to think of those who need just a little extra care. Thanks to this experience, our child can finally form a real picture of what to expect from an air‑travel holiday, because with explanations alone, he simply cannot imagine it. We found it incredibly fun and very helpful to experience this together with our son! Thank you!” From a Parent in Brussels. “Interesting! I was allowed to control the baggage belt. Everything was great. Especially the picnic room (lounge), the weapon control (security), the aircraft, just everything!” From Oskar in Dusseldorf, 7 years old. “Thank you for yesterday’s experience. From what participants have said, I think it couldn’t have been better, Mario is still saying that it was the best day of his life.” Parent from Fundación Friends, Barcelona. “The effort that Emirates put into creating more awareness, understanding, and sensitivity towards people with an invisible disability deserves the highest appreciation. Your approach shows insight, respect, and genuine commitment, making the world a better place and the lives of people with disabilities more liveable. It is inspiring to see how much care and attention you put into this. Hopefully, other airlines will follow your example, and awareness for people with disabilities will continue to grow. Thank you very much for this wonderful experience.” From an Autism Group leader in Brussels. “Unusual, I have never been to an airport. Very strange bus, it had doors on both sides. Cockpit was very cool! I was surprised to receive a present, I was very happy! Everything was unusual but fine and I could understand everything what was explained.” From Erik in Dusseldorf, 19 years old. ‘I was buzzing with excitement as the day approached with my students. Emirates’ team were incredibly welcoming and supportive, going above and beyond to make our travel experience both exciting and comfortable. From sensory-friendly spaces to tailored support, every detail was thoughtful. We had so much fun with the staff they truly understood us and were thrilled to have us. Thanks for making it a memorable day’. From a Class Teacher in Accra. “The experience you’ve given us is invaluable. We continue to be overwhelmed by the welcome we received. We loved all the details and preparation of the tickets at check-in, controls, boarding, and meeting the crew. We consider it a very significant step forward. The boys and girls came back very happy and after a week they are still remembering and talking about the visit. The feedback from families has also been very positive.” Representative from the Fundación Aucavi, Madrid. “Thank you can feel so light at times like these. To think of our children with autism was such an honor for families. You unpacked travel aspirations they have, their desired destinations. One parent said they never ever asked their son where he would like to visit thinking he knows no destinations.” Representative from the Regional Development Office for Autism, South Africa “Thank you, Emirates. It helped us a lot that we could go through the check-in process all the way to boarding the plane (the problem for us was/is the transportation on the passenger bridge, but now we know that it’ll be fine for our child too). Special thanks for your hospitality, and for the patience of Emirates staff. Our little boy had a great desire to board a plane, we returned home enriched with positive experiences. He also went to school today in the hat he received.” Parent from Hungary “I haven’t travelled in ten years out of fear for my child. After this experience, I feel more confident and hope to plan a trip with him.” Parent from Angola “A million thanks for organizing, your team was incredibly professional and kind. My gratitude to the crew member who showed Nore around, it made his day! He was also over the moon with the goodie bag he received, his smile got bigger and bigger as we reached home. You really did an amazing job when he finished his day by raising his arms and shouted: “I love being an autist”!” Parent of Nore from Oslo. “It was more than an airport experience. It was a gesture of respect, care, and recognition of everyone’s right to belonging, to travel, and to live fully. Each smile, each achievement, and each emotional glance from our little ones and their families revealed the true meaning of inclusion: creating safe, welcoming, and accessible spaces for everyone.” Doctor from Kuzola Mona Children Development Centre, Angola. “Wow what an experience you provided our students on Friday. As a teacher of students with specialist needs for over 20 years this was one of the best things I have attended. Everyone commented on the care and attention from the whole Emirates team and the ground crew at Christchurch airport. We now have families who feel confident to give travel a go! Emirates aircraft model now has a new home, at the school reception.” Teacher from Pītau-Allenvale School, Christchurch. Emirates’ continuous support for neurodiverse customers Emirates will continue to arrange Travel Rehearsals across its global network throughout 2026, inviting more schools and centres to participate. Emirates’ range of sensory products and fidget toys (http://apo-opa.co/3QmXkiT) for customers of all ages continue to be available onboard in all cabin classes, for passengers who are neurodiverse, anyone who is struggling onboard or is a nervous traveller. Emirates Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub (http://apo-opa.co/3QmXs1R) on Emirates.com has been designed to contain all the information needed for accessible and inclusive travel, featuring accessibility-friendly navigation that allows customers to find information easily and explore the many ways that Emirates can provide travel assistance and support. Aiming to reduce anxiety before travelling, customers can choose to view and explore sections by disability, including Hidden Disabilities. If preferred, customers can search by looking at specific parts of the journey, which have been clearly arranged – Before your flight, Departure from Dubai, Onboard your flight, Connecting in Dubai and Arriving in Dubai. A third option allows customers to browse by specific needs, including Prepare for travel with the autism-friendly guide and Explore Dubai Airport (DXB) Map and Sensory guides.
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    Emirates launches world’s most comprehensive travel insurance

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    Emirates (www.Emirates.com) has become the first airline in the world to offer Comprehensive Travel Cover, an industry-first travel insurance product that handles...
    The blueprint, presented by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), also proposes construction of a new runway by 2029 and expansion of airfield capacity to handle up to 63 aircraft movements per hour, up from the current 14. Officials say passenger numbers have been rising by roughly one million annually, meaning existing facilities could become insufficient within the next three years if upgrades are not undertaken. Beyond terminal development, the Master Plan outlines phased infrastructure investments, including landside upgrades to improve access, circulation and operational efficiency. The expansion will be carried out in stages to minimize disruption, with existing terminals rehabilitated and optimized during the transition. Authorities argue the modernization is critical to maintaining JKIA’s position as a regional aviation hub, boosting cargo and passenger traffic, and supporting airport-linked businesses. However, financing, execution timelines and coordination with stakeholders will be key to delivering the project without operational setbacks.
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    Kenya Airways brings back Boeing 777, launches 50% fare discounts ahead...

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    Kenya Airways has brought back its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft into service and is giving passengers a rare chance to fly on one...
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    Moroccan Peace Activist Zakaria El Hamel Wins International Nelson Mandela Human...

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    Zakaria El Hamel, Moroccan Human Rights and  peace advocate, and President-Founder of the Youth for Peace and Dialogue Between Cultures organization, has been officially...
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    Family Bank to List by Introduction on NSE on June 23

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    Family Bank has received approval from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to list its shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) by...
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    Shelter Afrique Development Bank Unveils New Brand Identity as it Marks...

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    – Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) has unveiled a new brand identity, including a new logo, marking a significant milestone in its...
    Artificial intelligence, blockchain, data visualisation and community-driven platforms were among the technologies harnessed during The Biggest Hunger Hack, a challenge hosted by KFC Africa Africa’s hunger crisis just met its next wave of disruption. Sixty of South Africa's smartest Gen Z innovators spent a week hacking one of the nation’s toughest problems, child hunger, and emerged with breakthrough, tech-powered ideas that could change how food insecurity is tackled. Artificial intelligence, blockchain, data visualisation and community-driven platforms were among the technologies harnessed during The Biggest Hunger Hack, a challenge hosted by KFC Africa. The event invited young digital natives to re-engineer the brand’s Add Hope open-source blueprint. Add Hope, powered by millions of R2 donations from KFC customers, already fuels 3,300+ feeding centres across the country, reaching over 154,000 children last year. But Gen Z just showed how the recipe can get a digital boost. Potential seed funding of up to R1 million could be allocated to the development of the winning solution. Stand-out solutions The overall winning team. Ctrl-Alt-Del-Hunger, turned South Africa’s food waste crisis into a social impact opportunity. Their Misfits Mzansi app rescues ‘ugly’ fruit and veg that would normally be trashed on farms and delivers it to food-insecure families. The platform also hosts short-form cooking challenges, edutainment content, and ad-driven donations so users literally feed families by engaging with content. “You become a philanthropist just by watching a video,” said the team. Streetwise scripters built a social-media-first donation ecosystem. Their concept includes a real-time donor dashboard, donation hotspot map, and a KFC loyalty rewards integration where good deeds unlock free meals. Plus, they proposed @ KFCAddHopeSA, a TikTok-to-Till campaign for digital storytelling that keeps donors looped in. Bit Coders’ chatbot ecosystem makes donations inclusive and transparent — even for non-KFC customers. It features AI-driven donor insights, rewards, and tax certification downloads for big donations, using the MTN MoMo API for seamless payments. Hack 4 Hope’s solution showcased a WhatsApp chatbot that allows customers to scan a QR code from their KFC till slip to instantly donate. Built on blockchain, the system provides proof of every R2’s journey, from donor to meal served, creating full transparency and reinforcing trust. The platform’s “HopeCoins’ reward repeat donors and gamify giving. The ultimate ingredient: collaboration “The Biggest Hunger Hack showed what happens when young digital natives use tech for good,” said Andra Nel, KFC Africa’s Head of Brand Purpose and ESG. “They understand hunger because many have lived it and they understand technology because they were born into it. That’s the sweet spot for innovation with purpose.” Stakeholders from business, government, and civil society joined the event in Johannesburg to see the hackers pitch live and explore ways to scale their ideas nationally. Nel says the next step is to co-develop pilot programmes with Add Hope partners, aiming to showcase results by the time the National Convention on Child Hunger convenes early next year. “Collaboration is our key ingredient, from customers dropping R2 at the till, to partners like McCormick, Tiger Brands, Foodserv, CBH, Nature’s Garden, Digistics, and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, all rallying behind the Add Hope recipe,” she said. “Opening up Add Hope as an open-source blueprint has unleashed an outpouring of ubuntu that’s turning this fight into a movement, one that South Africa, and the world, can learn from.” “These Gen Z hackers showed how tech can supercharge reach and transparency. Now the goal is to turn their best concepts into live pilots with our 128 feeding partners.” Nel said. KFC has been part of Africa’s story since 1971, when the first restaurant opened in Johannesburg. Today, with more than 1,400 restaurants across 22 sub-Saharan countries, it stands as the continent’s leading quick service restaurant brand and home of the Original Recipe® fried chicken that millions love. At KFC Africa, we feed more than hunger, we feed potential. Every meal served is part of a bigger purpose: creating a seat at the table for everyone and ensuring that potential isn’t just seen, it’s nurtured. That commitment comes to life through initiatives that make a measurable difference. Our Streetwise Academy, backed by Services SETA accreditation, equips team members with skills to thrive across frontline leadership, HR and operations, achieving a 75% promotion and retention rate that proves the power of investing in people. Our Add Hope programme delivers over 30 million meals to vulnerable children each year, while Mini Cricket, South Africa’s largest grassroots sports programme, reaches more than 120,000 young players guided by 13,000 coaches. Beyond food, initiatives such as the Ikusasa Lethu scholarships and youth empowerment programmes across Africa open pathways to education, livelihoods, and brighter futures. With over 40,000 team members powering our business, KFC Africa is proud to be an employer of choice, cultivating careers, fairness, and integrity while serving millions daily. Because when individuals rise, families strengthen. Communities grow. Nations transform. That’s the undeniable impact we are proud to serve. Add Hope isn’t just spare change, it’s real change. Every time you add just R2 to your KFC meal, you’re helping a child in South Africa get the nutritious food they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Here’s the kicker: KFC has donated over R400M in the last 16 years. Since 2009, together we’ve raised over R1.2 billion, serving up more than 30 million meals every year through thousands of feeding centres and non-profits. That’s millions of kids with the energy to show up at school, focus, play, and dream bigger. But Add Hope doesn’t stop at full stomachs. It opens doors. It gives kids the chance to play through Mini Cricket, offers high school scholarships through Ikusasa Lethu, and levels up futures with the Streetwise Academy. Add Hope is one of South Africa’s most impactful social purpose brands. Because this isn’t just about food. It’s about feeding potential.
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    Gen Z tech talent rewires Africa’s fight against hunger

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    Artificial intelligence, blockchain, data visualisation and community-driven platforms were among the technologies harnessed during The Biggest Hunger Hack, a challenge hosted by...
    Canon’s RF/EF lens production exceeds 170 million units, extending its world record in interchangeable lens production Both EF and RF lenses have gained strong support from a wide range of users—from beginners to professionals—leading to steady growth in production volume Canon Inc. announced that, in October 2025, Canon reached a historic milestone of producing a cumulative total of 170 million RF and EF interchangeable lenses for its EOS series, extending its world record for the highest number of interchangeable camera lenses ever produced. The EF lens was introduced in 1987 as the dedicated lens system for Canon’s EOS autofocus single-lens reflex film camera, debuting simultaneously with the EOS system itself. Since their inception, EF lenses have led the industry by incorporating a series of world-first technologies, including the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, and a multilayered Diffractive Optical (DO) element, and have undergone numerous evolutions. In 2018, Canon launched the RF lens series, designed for the EOS R mirrorless camera system, which features a large aperture, short back focus, and high-speed communication system to deliver even higher image quality. The RF and EF lens series lineup now includes a total of 108 models , covering a wide range of focal lengths from ultra-wide 10mm to super-telephoto 1200mm. The series also includes the world’s first VR lens lenses with built-in power zoom suited for video shooting, and even those compatible with power zoom adapters—expanding the scope of creative expression and meeting the diverse needs of users for both still photography and video. EF lens production began at Canon’s Utsunomiya Plant in 1987. Since then, both EF and RF lenses have gained strong support from a wide range of users—from beginners to professionals—leading to steady growth in production volume. Today, Canon manufactures lenses at five sites: Utsunomiya Plant; Canon Inc., Taiwan; Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.; Oita Canon Inc.; and Miyazaki Canon Inc. Milestones include 10 million units produced by 1995 and 50 million by 2009. Then in 2014, Canon became the first company in the world to reach 100 million interchangeable camera lenses produced. In October 2025, the company reached 170 million units, leading to the achievement of this world record. The 170 millionth lens produced was the RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z. Canon has maintained the No.1 global market share for digital interchangeable-lens cameras for 22 consecutive years since 2003. Moving forward, Canon will continue to refine its proprietary imaging technologies and further strengthen and expand its lens lineup, pioneering new imaging possibilities and contributing to the continued evolution of photographic and video culture. Highlights in the development of the RF/EF Lens Series The EF lens, which was introduced alongside EOS in March 1987, has adopted a variety of world-first technologies, including Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, featured in the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM released in 1995; a multilayered Diffractive Optical (DO) element, used in the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM launched in 2001; and Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) [7], applied to the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM released in 2008. In 2021, Canon launched the EOS VR System, a VR video system consisting of a mirrorless camera [8], dedicated lens, and PC software, thereby creating a 3D 180° VR video through an interchangeable lens camera. In 2024, Canon began rolling out a new series of hybrid lenses equipped with iris rings, designed to meet the needs of both still photography and professional video production. For zoom lenses, the company has also launched RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z and RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z which are compatible with power zoom adapters. For single focus lenses, the company released F1.4 L hybrid prime lens series that unified the size and ring and button position across models. In September 2025, Canon launched RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, the fifth model in this series, demonstrating that it can meet demands in line with the changing times. [1] Includes EF, EF-S, EF-M, EF Cinema, RF, RF-S, and RF Cinema lenses and extenders. As of October 21, 2025 (according to a survey by Canon) [2] Among SLR cameras (according to a survey by Canon) [3] Number of products sold as of October 22, 2025 (including extenders). The number of lens models for sale is different according to market figures. [4] Focal length is 5.2mm to 1200mm when including VR lenses [5] An interchangeable digital camera lens that enables VR footage with a single camera. Among interchangeable lens digital cameras released as of October 5, 2021 (according to a survey by Canon) [6] Refers to unit share (according to a survey by Canon) [7] A special coating with advanced anti-reflective properties [8] For applicable cameras, please visit the official Canon website *Release dates in this document refer to dates in Japan. Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa. Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
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    Canon makes history with 170 Million lenses milestone

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    Canon’s RF/EF lens production exceeds 170 million units, extending its world record in interchangeable lens production Both EF and...
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    Africa’s EV trailblazer Spiro Gains $215M Boost

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    Leading scale-up Spiro has secured a landmark $215M investment round backed by major institutional investors including Impact Fund Denmark, and...
    From an SMS pioneer to a globally trusted AI-powered chat commerce innovator Clickatell, a pioneer in mobile messaging and global leader in chat commerce, is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of transforming how brands interact and transact with their customers. Founded in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2000,, Clickatell made history as the first company to connect businesses on the internet with consumers on mobile phones via SMS, using just four lines of code. Today, it powers AI-driven chat commerce experiences for leading enterprises across banking, retail, travel, telecoms, healthcare and more, trusted by global brands including Fiserv, Ria, Discovery, Absa, Tymebank, Standard bank, FlySafair, Clientèle, Pick n Pay, Massmart (Walmart), MTN, Telkom, Toyota, Europcar, and thousands of additional businesses across the US, Europe, and the Global South markets. Over 25 years, Clickatell has continued to innovate and introduced a series of industry firsts, including the world’s first tokenized payments in WhatsApp; KYC-compliant chat banking; best-in-class conversational commerce utility use cases; and the launch of Chat-2-Pay in partnership with Visa. Its award-winning, enterprise-grade AI-powered Chat Commerce Platform enables leading consumer brands to interact and transact with customers in the same chat interface they use every day to run their lives. “From day one, our mission has been to give people back their time,” said Pieter de Villiers, Co-Founder and CEO of Clickatell. “As we celebrate 25 years, we’re proud to continue helping enterprises deliver on this mission by creating trusted, meaningful, and convenient customer experiences in chat. We don’t believe any brand wants to place customers on hold and with Clickatell’s AI-powered Chat Commerce Platform, they don’t have to. A ‘no hold, no app, no friction’ customer-first experience is possible as we enter the age of agentic commerce.” In addition, Clickatell remains deeply committed to social impact in South Africa, where it was founded and where a large portion of its workforce is based. Through initiatives such as Endeavor SA , SiMODiSA, and The Collective X, the company supports entrepreneurship, equips youth with vital digital skills, and creates pathways for inclusive economic growth. Looking ahead, Clickatell sees the evolution of its AI-powered Chat Commerce Platform into an agentic commerce layer within organizations, where every customer interaction can lead to a secure transaction, underpinned by convenient, effortless customer experiences. At Clickatell we envision a world where every customer interaction is as effortless and instant as a friendly chat - saving time, building trust, and transforming how businesses deliver service and commerce. Clickatell’s AI-powered Chat Commerce Platform enables enterprises to deliver secure, digital commerce and services inside the chat channels consumers already use. By turning every message into an opportunity for engagement, revenue, and loyalty, Clickatell helps businesses make customer experiences faster, simpler, and effortless, while giving time back to customers. Trusted by leading global brands, Clickatell is at the forefront of conversational and agentic commerce, uniting customer channels, event-driven orchestration, models with memory, and embedded payments so that every interaction drives measurable outcomes. We reduce cost-to-serve and lift conversion with secure, compliant, digital self-serve experiences.
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    Clickatell Celebrates 25 Years as it Enters the Age of Agentic...

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    From an SMS pioneer to a globally trusted AI-powered chat commerce innovator Clickatell, a pioneer in mobile messaging and global...
    By Clean Cooking Africa (CCA) Giraffe Bioenergy is a Kenya-based clean cooking startup focused on scaling the domestic production of cassava for ethanol cooking fuel and for food. The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) spoke with Dr. Linda Davis, CEO of Giraffe Bioenergy, about the company’s mission, its unique value proposition, its business-to-business model, and more. This interview is part of a series of conversations CCA is having with business leaders across the clean cooking sector. Tell us about Giraffe Bioenergy’s services. Dr. Linda Davis (Davis): We are a startup company now entering our growth phase, and our mission is domestically-produced, ethanol cooking fuel, with women as the driving force across the value chain, from cassava production to processing. Currently, ethanol is enjoyed by over one million households in Kenya. What we’re saying at Giraffe Bioenergy is, we have all the ingredients — vast amounts of land, skilled labor, and the political will — to scale up domestic production of cassava-based ethanol. Ours will be the first production unit specifically for Kenya’s ethanol cooking market. CCA: How do you retail cassava-based ethanol? Davis: I’m so excited to be in a business-to-business organization. If I can use KOKO Networks as an example, we will be retailing directly to them. KOKO Networks has a fuel supply and operating partnership with Vivo Energy, an independent, pan-African company that markets and distributes Shell-branded products in Kenya. Therefore, our business would be between Giraffe Bioenergy and Vivo Energy, which handles transportation and distribution for KOKO Networks up to a certain point before they manage the last-mile distribution. We expect our retail operations to be similar for all other customers. There are several emerging ethanol last-mile distributors for clean cooking fuel. For us, it’s straightforward: bring your tanker truck to our farm gate, we will fill it up, you write us a check, and off you go. So, we’re not really in the end-user retail market but primarily in the business wholesale market. CCA: What is your assessment of ethanol demand in Kenya? Davis: Our first ethanol plant produces 15 million liters every year. That is still a fraction of current ethanol cooking fuel demand, and an even smaller fraction of where the general ethanol market is expected to be. Under the Kenya National Clean Cooking Strategy, 30% of Kenya’s households are expected to transition to ethanol. That’s over 4 million households multiplied by the 16 liters of ethanol that the average family uses every month. The point is: demand definitely surpasses supply. CCA: Where do you envision most of your customer base being located? Davis: Right now, the biggest player in Kenya is KOKO Networks, and their customers are low-income, high-density urban communities. We are talking about people with incomes, who already have a budget dedicated to cooking fuel. What we, as the ethanol production and retail community, are saying is, “Give us the $25-30 you spend on charcoal and kerosene every month, and we will give you a clean, more affordable solution in its place.” In rural areas, on the other hand, households do not have a budget for cooking fuel. Their fuel is, quote-unquote, free. They are foraging for firewood, cutting trees, or using dried animal waste. It’s a difficult market to enter because you’re telling folks who are already poor, who think that fuel is “free,” that we need $30 from them. I’m sure KOKO and others will support that market at some point, but due to the costs of distribution, ethanol and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) necessarily have to be focused on urban and peri-urban areas right now. CCA: What makes Giraffe Bioenergy different from others in the clean cooking space? Davis: We’re unique because we’re the only ones taking advantage of clean cooking as a development issue. Clean cooking is a job creation opportunity. Clean cooking is a rural bioeconomy issue. Our agricultural system, at the scale of the first ethanol plant, will directly engage 1,500 farmers with meaningful employment, good wages, and both employment and harvest-based income. We are deploying a model where women work on our farms while also growing cassava on their own farms. We are really encouraging women to take the learnings from the central nucleus farm and apply them at home to attain high cassava yields, which translate into higher incomes. Another reason we are doing well is because we are completing the circular economy. Right now, ethanol suppliers in Kenya are making global farmers richer by buying their ethanol, which is highly subsidized. We’re saying, “We can close that loop” because everything is locally produced. We are providing an elegant, local solution to a uniquely sub-Saharan African problem. CCA: Ethanol can be made from a range of different agricultural products. Why does Giraffe Bioenergy use cassava? Davis: Ethanol is produced from the starch molecule, regardless of the source. The U.S. produces it from corn; in Europe, from wheat; in Thailand and China, from cassava; basically, from wherever we have excess starch. In Kenya, our choice is guided by the fact that cassava is not considered a staple food crop. The Kenya Ethanol Cooking Fuel Industry Masterplan, released in 2021, evaluated various feedstocks for ethanol production and cassava was identified as a viable option. Can you eat the cassava grown for ethanol? Absolutely, but there are practical considerations. One cassava tree can yield up to 20 kilograms (kg) of food, which spoils within 24-48 hours. A family can’t consume 20 kg of cassava in 24 hours. So, by virtue of its bulk, cassava is suitable for commercial production, with alternative end-users like ourselves in the ethanol production business. At Giraffe Bioenergy, I know my tagline is cheesy, but I stand by it: “We stand tall for food and fuel.” You can consume cassava as much as you want, but because we grow it in semi-arid, marginal land that is not suitable for other crops, the real value is bringing farmers into a formal agricultural system and putting money in their pocket to be able to diversify their food options and become food secure. Importantly from a food policy standpoint, we do not substitute cassava for existing food crops grown on fertile land. Kenya doesn’t have large-scale cassava production, which is why Giraffe Bioenergy had to start from the agricultural level. Initially, I wasn’t enthusiastic about this, but now I am very much a cassava farmer. Cassava makes sense for Kenya. CCA: Are there other considerations that make Kenya a priority country for developing this business? Davis: Yes, Kenya is unique for three reasons. First, Kenya has vast amounts of underutilized, semi-arid land with unreliable rainfall and depleted soils where cassava grows well, so we’re not encroaching on agrarian land. Second, Kenya recognizes ethanol as a significant solution to the cooking fuel challenge. By 2028, 50% of Kenyans are expected to use LPG, 30% ethanol, and 10% electricity, with the remainder using biogas, firewood, and charcoal. The political will is there. And finally, Kenya has a developed last-mile ethanol market. CCA: Are there any barriers to aggregating farmers and land to scale up your production? Davis: Unlike the flatlands in the American Midwest or the Canadian prairies, in Kenya agricultural land isn’t as contiguous, making mechanization difficult. Additionally, the communities we work in have entered a devastating cycle of self-destruction. The largest income earner in Kilifi County, where we work, is charcoal burning. Young men cut the trees near the road, and when those are gone, they ask for their inheritance, sell their land, and buy motorcycles to go deeper into the forest to produce more charcoal. It is as heartbreaking as it sounds. For biorefineries to be successful, we need a nucleus farm that we own and operate alongside a smallholder supporting system. We’ve already secured the contiguous lands we need for our first biorefinery, but if I’m compelled to require a larger production share from smallholders due to a lack of contiguous land suitable for a nucleus farm and, therefore, reduce participation as an owner/operator, it could be challenging in the future. CCA: Who do you see as your primary business partners — at this moment and as your company continues to grow? Davis: My primary partners are my governance and management team, who help with advising, fundraising, and executing our agricultural operations. We’re also partnering with food producers to commercialize clean seedlings, addressing concerns around food versus fuel. NGOs are key partners in distributing clean seedlings for food to smallholder farmers, since cassava serves as a backstop to maize, especially in semi-arid areas that are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Government ministries that focus on energy and agriculture are interested in seeing us succeed in catalyzing both the food and fuel systems. Finally, our investment partners are critical for our early-stage funding.
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    Giraffe Bioenergy: Building a Cassava-to-Ethanol Ecosystem in East Africa

    Staff Writer -
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    By Clean Cooking Africa (CCA) Giraffe Bioenergy is a Kenya-based clean cooking startup focused on scaling the domestic production...
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